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Friday, December 31, 2010

New Burma Flag2010 was a rather active year for vexillology. Two national flags changed - the flag of Malawi and Burma! In the South Pacific the special overseas French Territory of New Caledonia adopted the previously rebel Kanak Flag as being official.

King, North CarolinaChristian Flag Rally 2010

On the flag controversy front - the desecration of the US flag was a non issue. But it may come up again in 2011, with the new Republican Congress? But in North Carolina the flying of Christian Flag at a veterans memorial was perhaps the most controversial vexi-issue. With the 150th of the US Civil war in order, the Confederate flag is poised to be an issue in 2011.

Flag of Chile rev upped theChilean Spirit for the MinersUnfortunately due to national disasters the flags of Chile and Haiti were plastered all over the news media. At least with the trapped Chile miners it was a happy ending, Haiti is still recovering. Which ever nation gets hit with misfortune will at least gets its flag flying all over the news networks. This causes the suffering nation to get a boost of communal flag-salute prayer energy, or something like that.

North Korea was able to gets its flag waved 'In Your Face America' due simmering issues and festering back karma. Thus North Korea won the top prize of 'enemy flag' of the USA in 2010. Maybe next year Iran, Yemen, or Somalia will give the 'pain body' of North Korea a run for money? Try as 'THEY' might American people will not care about Venezeula or whatever Hugo Chaves does with his oil.

The World Cup was held in South Africa and thus the colours of South Africa waved in the limelight in addition to grand winner - i Viva Spain!

Of fanciful flags created this year - South Park flew an anti-New Jersey Flag, Coats of arms were granted to Cable news shows on their own agenda (Glenn Beck University & Steven Colbert University). But on a lighter note the flag of Disney's Tangled flew with some grace and universal humour.

New Malawi Flag Who knows what 2011 will bring? A prediction - at least one African country will switch up there flags as soon as a new party comes into power. Maybe something exciting will happen in Eastern Europe? One thing for sure Australia and New Zealand will think about changing in the flag and do nothing about it.

Also the last moon of 2010 ends on January 4th 2011. Thus we only get four extra nights of 2010 in 2011.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The image on the disc is a kind of 'totempole' placed on homes of native Kanaks

In between Australia and Hawaii is the lush and beautiful island of New Caledonia. Although it is much closer to Australia.

Caledonia is the old Roman name for Scotland, but very few people in New Caledonia are Scottish. Instead persons of the French ethnic make up a good percentage. The other dominate group are indigenous Melanesians. Melanesians are similar in looks to African and Aboriginal peoples of Australia with 'black' skin and curly hair. But Melanesians sometimes have blond hair when they are young.

Last July of 2010 New Caledonia adopted a second official flag. Thus at the moment New Caledonia has two official flags - the flag of France and the flag of the Kanak People. This flag was created in 1984 and was originally a rebel flag. It is a horizontal tri-bar with blue in up top, red in the middle, and green on the bottom. Off center to the left is a yellow disc with a native totem found on Kanak houses.

Flag of theNative Mapuche Peoplein South America, Chile and ArgentinaOn the other side of the Pacific in Chile and parts of Argentina another flag represents another indigenous group of people - the Mapuche. The Mapuche flag is also a tri-bar with similar colours of different shades or order. Another difference is that the central yellow disc is centered, but like Kanak of New Caledonia it is decorated with cultural totems. Finally on the top and bottom are two thin black strips with 12 white diamonds on each for a total of 24.

Just as Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 the Mapuche were fighting against the Inca. The Mapuche held their ground against the Inca but had a more troublesome time with the Spanish and their successor states. The Mapuche remained nominally a free people until the Chilean Government came into power. Chile and Argentina settled these Native South Americans in a similar manner as did the US and Canada did in North America. Instead of reservations or reverses, the Mapuche were grounded to analogous 'reducciones.'

The Mapuche people make up more than 3% of Chilean people but are much less in political power. They have their own Mapuche Language, culture, and the old religious ways have survived to the modern day.

Which came first the Chicken or the Egg? I don't know but recent archeological and genetic evidence indicates that the chicken may have been brought over from Polynesia before the arrival of Columbus - maybe even from New Caledonia?

The flags of New Caledonia and the Mapuche South American connect two people from one end of the South Pacific to the other.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

The theory of entanglement states that all atoms/waves of energy are perpetually connected to each other by some sort of cosmic glue/net. Two 'objects' that are entangled will always have an effect on the other no matter the distance of separation. If you poke one 'object' the other will be instantly effected - and this happens instantly 'beyond' the speed of light?

Kind of strange but two flags that seem to be entangled are the official flag of NAVA 43 and the flag featured in Walt Disney's movie Tangled, 2010. Both flags use the colours violet and yellow. Both feature a golden sun in the center. Although the sun of NAVA 43 is eclipsed by a crescent moon. The crescent moon is an old symbol for South Carolina.

Both the suns of Disney's Tangled and NAVA 43's flag have wavy sun rays - NAVA has eight wavy rays while Tangled has seven wavy rays. Inbetween the long wavy rays are others rays. Tangled has seven short wavy rays while NAVA 43's flag has eight long triangular waves.

NAVA's 43rd meeting took place in a castle of sorts. It was held at the original Citadel of Charleston South Carolina. Currently run by Embassy Suites. This is a true American Castle that even has the battle scars to prove it. A wee bit of fighting actually occurred there during the US Civil War. Now, it is a top notch hotel with some of the best Southern Cooking I have ever had.

Princess Repunzel's flag in the backgroundNAVA's #43 flag in a Disney movie!? How strange? Not! However NAVA's #43 flag did come out officially a year before Disney's Tangled. But perhaps both flags were created at the same time in 2009 because of movie post production?

Flag of the lost princess - Repunzelaccording to Disney in movie Tangled

Coincidentally when women in the United States fought for their rights to vote, the two most popular colours of this movement were purple and yellow.

Amazingly no national flag has ever come to use the combination of purple and yellow-gold. Many times over patterns and colours are recycled over and over. But never has purple and gold become the dominant colour of any nation. It seems appropriate that the Women's Vote Movement chose such a combination of Colours.

Another banner in Purple and Gold. Made in honor of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was instrumental in extending voting rights to women in the United States 1917 bp

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Every year since 2007 I have made a Christmas-Holiday Card that shows my flag symmetry idea decked out with certain flags of the 50 US States. This year was no exception.

Flag of Connecticut with a Hanukkah twist The pair of states chosen were Connecticut and Vermont. They may not look so similar at first glance but there are a few interesting parallels. Both their state flags feature plants as the centerpiece of their flags. Connecticut has three grapevines and nine bunches of grapes. While Vermont has a pine tree in the middle. Their backgrounds are both blue of different shades. They both feature a shield that repeat the 'leaves' of their honored plant. All around the shield of Connecticut are grape leaves in the positions normally associated with the supporter, compartment, and crest. Likewise Vermont has two crossed branches of a pine tree in the supporter and compartment areas.

Flag of Vermont with the X-Mas Spirit

Culturally during the Colonial Revolution of 1776 early flags of rebellion in New England included the pine tree and a vine of grapes. So in some manner these two flags echo of the original revolution against parliament and king.

Their flags have been 'North Polarized' in different ways. First Connecticut has been modified into a Menorah. Just as it already has 9 bunches of grapes, a Menorah has 9 candles. If you didn't know the chief financial elf at Santa's workshop is Jewish, as is Rudolph and the Grinch who stole Christmas but later gave it back on reconsideration.

The flag of Vermont has been altered to night with a healthy heaping of snowfall. Red Christmas balls were added to the branches around the seal. The cow is pulling a sleigh, the deer on the heraldic wreath has a Rudolph Nose, and finally the tree has been north polarized with the Christmas Tree.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Flag of Moscow CityThe flags of these two federal subjects are the last to be presented here in this 20 part series that is focused on Russia.

My primary contribution to vexillology is a meta-vexillological subject that flags can be classified in groups of two in a unique manner. The previous 20 blog posts illustrate this phenomena with the federal subject flags of Russia. Regular vexillology mostly deals with documenting, social study, and historical analysis of flags. Meta-vexillology is the undefined frontier of flag study.

The flag of Moscow City and Volgograd Province are united via the colours red, white, and blue. Red is their shared background. Both persons are drawn in black and white. St. George is depicted striking a dragon in the mouth, while the flag of Volgograd depicts the statue 'The Motherland Calls.' Both flags also have an element of blue. The cape of St. George is blue while there are two blue vertical stripes on the left of Volgograd's flag.

Flag of Volgograd

St. George is the patron saint of Moscow City and also makes a smaller appearance on the flag of Moscow Province. St. George is famous for being a dragon slayer and lived as a rebel Christian before it was made legal by Emperor Constantine I in 313.

The statue 'The Motherland Calls' was made in 1967 in honor of the Battle of Stalingrad. The key turning point of WWII. This battle would rage for half a year from July 1942 until February of 1943. Two more years would follow before Russia would defeat her enemies to the west.

Statue in Volgograd Mother Land CallsMany battles for Moscow have also taken place, but the 'largest and deadliest battle' in human history took place in Volgograd Province when the city was called Stalingrad. This most epic world shaping battles has been retold in movies and even in video games.

The union of the Moscow City and Volgograd flags illustrate the universal dichotomy - man and woman. The man of Moscow City is considered a holy man, St. George, while the woman of Volgograd is simply a Russian Woman with no religious attachment. The man is high on his horse but the woman stands barefoot with her feet planted on the earth. Both persons hold weapons - the man holds a lance while the woman hold a sword. The man is striking downwards at an imaginary dragon, while the woman is holding her sword upwards towards the heavens.

Like Yin and Yang Moscow and Volgograd are hollowed ground of fallen heroes and ordinary men and women. These patches of earth have been baptized by the paradoxically tragic and hopeful river of war and peace.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Flag of SmolenskSmolensk and Chelyabinsk are flag twins. Their background colours are a similar tone. Smolensk is brownish red, while Chelyabinsk is a deep red. Another common element are their yellow stripes. Chelyabinsk has a thick solid line near the bottom, while in the same position Smolensk has a thinner double yellow line.

You can see a NapoleonicCannon on the flag of Smolensk

These two provinces repeat the intrinsic East-West dichotomy of Russia. Smolensk Province is a part of Europe and borders Belarus, while Chelyabinsk Province is a part of Asia and borders Kazakhstan, an Asian Country.

The essential cultural parallel deals with Russian Fire Power. It was during the Patriotic War of 1812 that Russia gave Napoleon his first taste of resistance in Smolensk, which eventually led to the famous 1812 overture that even has cannon fire written in the musical score.

Maybe the most famous tankof WWII that helped turn the tide of the warMore than one hundred years later during the Patriotic War of 1941 Russia would again resist a great and brutal army from the west. During both wars, the fate of Russia was in peril.

World War II was the epic war of the tank. Out of this conflict was born one of the most beloved mobile armored gun units ever created - the T-34. A good majority of the T-34s were made in Chelyabinsk Province, which was subsequently given the nickname 'Tankograd.'

Coincidentally on the flag of Smolensk Province is a Napoleonic Cannon. In one way you can think of an 1812 artillery unit as being the ancestor of the tank.

Flag of Chelyabinsk

The union of these two flags unites the Fire Bird with the Bactrian Camel. Russia has a tendency to rise from the ashes like a great Phoenix. Likewise she is like the hardy camel that can survive in the harshest of environments, whether it is caused by mankind or nature.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Flag of St. PetersburgThe flags of St. Petersburg and Tula harmonize intensely. On a backdrop of passionate red are metal tools and implements. St. Petersburg has two silver-white anchors. The anchors have their handles on the bottom with their hooks towards the top. The two pronged anchor has its bottom towards the upper left, while the four pronged anchor is placed in the upper right.

Flag of Tula

Tula Province has three three silver-white swords. Their handles are incomplete. In contrast to the anchors of St. Petersburg two of the unfinished swords point downwards with their unfinished handles pointing towards the upper left and upper right. There is also a third unfinished sword lying horizontally with the blade pointed towards the hoist.

In total there are six silver-white points on the flag of Tula likewise in a different manner there are six anchor points on the flag of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg has the golden imperial staff in honor of Russian Royalty, in contrast Tula has two yellow hammers reflective of the common worker. The hammer and imperial regalia are symbols that reflect the dynamic, poetic, and wonder-lust of Russian History from the romantic era of the Czar to the cosmic and forlorn tragedy of the Soviet Union.

With these two flags the labors of the peasants and those born with divine destiny are combined and presented to us in Yin and Yang like fashion.

St. Petersburg is not a province but a city with special status as a Russian Federal Subject. After Russia was 'born again' as a free nation in 1991 she originally had 89 Federal Subjects. As of 2010 there are only 83, due to mergers.

Finally St. Petersburg was named and founded by Czar Peter the Great after his namesake - St. Peter. Also Tula is famous for manufacturing weapons and craft making, thus the swords and hammers. Coincidentally Peter the Great promoted Tula a center for making weapons.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Russian Province of Yaroslavl and the Russian Republic of Kalmykia are united by a yellow background with a central charge. It is a union of the proverbial Russian Bear with the Buddhist Lotus.

The bear is the international symbol of Russia, while the bear with the axe is the symbol of Yaroslavl Province. The lotus flower is the cosmic symbol of one who has reached enlightenment, while the lotus flower on blue disc with a yellow background is the symbol of a Russian Federal Subject.

Yaroslavl Province is named after Yaroslavl the Wise. He was the last Grand Prince of the Rus before the 1054 millennial split of the European Church into the Eastern Church of Constantinople and Western Church of Rome. Since then the 'Catholic' Christian church has been split into two noble and competing congregations - like a chess set. Yaroslavl the wise died in 1054.

The bear on Yaroslavl's flag is a reminder of Yaroslavl the Wise's Christian conversion and founding of the Yaroslavl city in 1010. The story goes like this, the local inhabitants let loose a bear to kill Yaroslavl the Wise - instead he killed the wild bear himself and founded the city of Yaroslavl. Thus this year 2010 is the 1000th anniversary of this Yaroslavl City.

On the other hand we have the Republic of Kalmykia. Kalmykia is Europe's only dominantly Buddhist Nation, although a nation within a nation. The Buddhist Kalmyks came to Europe at about the same time New England was settled by the English in the 1620s.

Flag of KalmykiaThe flower on Kalmykia's flag is the Lotus Flower. This flower has a Yin and Yang essence. The lotus flower can bloom in the murkiest of mud with a grace and enchanting beauty. It reminds us that the divine exists even in the lowliest, murkiest, and least likeliest of places.

The pairing of Kalmykia and Yaroslavl is a meeting of East and West. The people of Kalmykia are of the Hindu-Buddeic tradition while the people of Yaroslavl are of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Just as Russians colonized East Asia, a portion of East Asia colonized European Russia. Kalmykia people speak a language related to Mongolian and share a physical appearance as 'Chinese.'

Of famous people from Yaroslavl is the first woman to go into space - Valentina Tereshkova. Ms. Tereshkova was the first woman launched into space in 1963. Just as Russia has a 'minor' essence of Buddhism so to did Vladimir Lenin, who had Kalmyk heritage.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Autonomous Chukota District and Republic of Tyva are in the Far East. Their flags are united by blue, white, yellow, and triangles. Chukotka has a solid dark blue field with a V-hoist canton with its zenith in the center. Tyva also has yellow V-hoist canton with its zenith off center towards the left.

Chukotka's white triangle is decorated with a yellow ring. Within the ring are the national colours of Russia. However Tuva's triangle is a solid yellow, instead her field is decorated with a Y-hoist division. The Y-hoist division is light blue with full white fimbriation.

You can see the United States of America from Chukotka District. Likewise you can also look into the 'Past,' since the imaginary international dateline exists here. But if you are standing in Alaska you would be looking into the 'Future.'

Flag of the Tyva RepublicThe Tyva Republic is named after a Turkish ethnic minority - the Tyvans. However unlike most Turks, Tyvans are not Islamic. Most are Buddhist, Christian, or Native-Shaman. The Chukchi District is named after another native group. They are the proverbial Russian Eskimo-Inuit. Although the Chukchi are officially a part of Asia - tectonically speaking they are a part a North America just like their eastern cousins in Canada and Alaska. Although in different time zones and different nations, the Chukchi people and Inuit of North America share a similar heaven, earth, and biorhythm.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Vologda and Saratov Province harmoniously align as flag twins. They both have mostly white backgrounds with a red stripe. Vologda's red stripe is along the right-fly side, while Saratov's red stripe is along the bottom side. The coat of arms are displayed on both flags. Saratov has three fish on a blue background, while Vologda has a divine hand extending from the clouds that holds a sword and the Royal Christian Orb with the Russian Imperial Crown floating above.

Flag of SaratovSaratov's bragging right in history is that it was the landing point of the Yuri Gagarin's first voyage into orbit. Although the Americans were first to set foot on the moon, the Soviets were the first in space. Yuri was welcomed back to earth in Saratov Province.

Shield of Arms of Vologdacompared to Tarot Ace of SwordsThe hand extending from the clouds is also found in many kinds of Tarot Cards, it represents the divine reaching out to the mortal. For example the flag of Vologda Province mirrors of the Ace of Swords from the Rider-Wait Tarot.

Vologda and Saratov are a part of the European portion of Russia. Coincidentally they are similar is shape and as medium sized logs.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Flag of NovgorodThe flags of Novgorod and Samara align by design in the background. They are both tri-bars of red, white and blue. Nogorod's bars are vertically cut while Samara's are horizontally cut.

Novgorod has two black bears and the fish while Samara has a white goat on their central shields.

Flag of Samara

Novgorod and Samara are both in the European parts of Russia but at transition points. Novgorod is a gateway to Scandinavia while Samara is a gateway to the steppe of Central Asia. Most of Novgorod's rivers flow into Europe's largest lake, lake Ladoga. While Samara rests on Europe's largest river, the Volga River, which feeds into the worlds largest internal sea, the Caspian.

Samara Province and Novgorod Province have large cities with their provincial namesake. These cities are beyond Moscow's comfort zone and have their own personalities.

Nevesky with his Tatar blood brother Sartaq The solidification of Moscow as key power point in Russia accelerated in 1252 when Alexander Nevesky rose to power. At this time much of Russia was subjugated by the Mongols under the Golden Khanate, which at this time ruled over what was to be Samara. But the Mongols never attacked Novgorod.

Alexander Nevesky proved himself a great leader by defending Novgorod from Scandinavian and German invasion and allying to a Tatar named Sartaq, who became his blood brother. This alliance served as a catalyst for Moscow's growth in the middle ages.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The flag of Altay Territory and Kemerovo Province pair up gently. On the left-hoist side is a blue stripe. Kemrovo's blue stripe is thicker and a darker blue. On the right fly are fields of red. Kemerovo's field is blank but Altay Territory has a coat of arms. Likewise Kemerovo also has the coat of arms but within the blue stripe.

Flag of Altay TerritoryCoincidentally both flags have stalks of wheat. For the Altay Territory it is clearly visible. The Altay wheat stalk fills up the blue stripe. For Kemerovo, it is a bit harder to see. There are three stalks of wheat on the inner shield of the coat of arms. Look closely on the inner black portion, and the three wheat stalks cross a hammer and pick axe.

You can guess that mining and agriculture are key industries of these two Russian lands. These lands are parallel to Alberta, and Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. This means they are warmer than Alaska yet colder than Maine or North Dakota, which means Altay and Kemerovo are a fisherman's paradise.

The hammer and pick axe of Kemerovo balance with the blast furnace and vase of the Altay Territory since the represent the advanced industrial technologies that the Russians brought to the region.

Close up of Arms on Flags

Altay also has a wreath of wheat while on the 'black home plate' of Kemerovo there are three stalks of wheat

Kemerovo and the Altay Territory are Russian Federal Subjects in the heart of Siberia in between China, Mongolia, and Kazakstan. Also note there is another Russian Federal Subject called the Altay Republic which is different from the Altay Territory.

Monday, December 13, 2010

The flag of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan matches up with the flag of Kaluga Province. Their colours are inverts of red and green, a fitting collage for the Christmas Season. The main difference is that Kaluga has an imperial crown while Tatarstan has a thinner middle white line.

Tatarstan and Kaluga are a cultural match that echos of the past conflict between the West and the East. Russia is nation of delicate balance between Asia and Europe. Generally speaking Russia is mix of white and oriental people, or rather yellow and occidental ethnics. The primary white-occidental people are Russians themselves and the primary yellow-oriental people of Russia are the Tatars.

Flag of KalugaThe cultural shifts of Russia between the East and West mirrors the force of Yin and Yang. Currently Russia has shifted towards the West, but in the 13th century, the power of Russia was polarized towards the East. Perhaps sometime in the future Russia will once again face towards the East.

In what is now Kaluga Province is where Russia broke free from the Tatar Yoke. The name of the 'battle' is called the Great Ugra River Standoff. Less than a hundred years later the Russians would overtake the 'capital city' of the Tatars with capture Kazan in 1552. With the Tatars subdued - Russians would place a 'Slav Yoke' on much of North Eastern Asia and the Caucus region.

It was under Ivan the Great - that Russia freed herself of the Tatar Yoke in 1480, but under Ivan the Terrible - that Russia placed a 'Russia Yoke' on the Tatars in 1552.

By utter coincidence Kaluga Province and the Republic Tatarstan are centers of the Russian Automotive industry. Russia's largest truck maker KAMAZ is centered in Tatarstan, and Kaluga is known as the 'Russian Detroit-Motor City.'

It may be confusing but in a layman's note. There is a big difference between Tatars and Mongols, but it is not strictly enforced. The Mongols conquered Russia in the 1200s. But Russia was freed of the Tatar Yoke, which is sometimes called the Mongol Yoke. Tatars and Mongols are two different ethnics, who speak totally different languages. Tatars are ethnically a Turkish people. But in the US, Americans think of Turks as being from Turkey and looking like Borat. But only Turks from Turkey look like Borat. Generally speaking the Turkish people from Central Asia look like they are from China or Mongolia. For example, the ethnic Kazaks of Kazakhstan are Turks but look nothing like Borat but they could be mistaken as being Mongolian or Chinese.